Precision vise

ABSTRACT

The precision vise has four major components including a base having a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, a cylindrical guide element or pin and a threaded operating rod or element. The base is provided with an accurately finished jaw support surface having a longitudinally extending slot or groove therein extending from one end of the base to the other end. The cylindrical guide element is located in the slot in engagement with curved or part cylindrical guide surfaces located on opposite sides of the slot. The movable jaw having an accurately finished bottom surface is mounted on the support surface and is fastened to the cylindrical guide element. The threaded operating rod is rotatably carried by the base and is connected to the movable jaw. Manipulation of the operating rod is effective to move the movable jaw in one direction only in a straight path towards or away from the stationary jaw depending on the direction of rotation of the rod, with the guide element traveling in the slot in engagement with the guide surfaces to thereby maintain the movable jaw properly oriented and aligned.

United States Patent Russ [ 51 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] PRECISION VISE Edwin Rus, 27736 Palmer Lane, Madison Heights, Mich. .48071 221 Filed: July 31,1969

211 Appl. No.1 846,560

[72] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Andrew R. J uhasz Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap ABSTRACT The precision vise has four major components including a base having a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, a cylindrical guide element or pin and a threaded operating rod or element. The base is provided with an accurately finished jaw support surface having a longitudinally extending slot or groove therein extending from one end of the base to the other end. The cylindrical guide element is located in the slot in engagement with curved or part cylindrical guide surfaces located on opposite sides of the slot. The movable jaw having an accurately finished bottom surface is mounted on the support surface and is fastened to the cylindrical guide element. The threaded operating rod is rotatably carried by the base and is connected to the movable jaw. Manipulation of the operating rod iseffective to move the movable jaw in one direction only in a straight path towards or away from the stationary jaw depending on the direction of rotation of the rod, with the guide element traveling in the slot in engagement with the guide surfaces to thereby maintain the movable jaw properly oriented and aligned.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures g g mm ag1111111!!!hilllllfllllll!!! PAIENTEBFEB 22 I972 INVENTOR.

EDWIN RUSS n'l/df A TORNEYS PRECISION VISE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The precision vise is adapted to be used by machinists and other skilled craftsmen when performing metalworking operations on a workpiece where close or minute tolerances are involved. As an example, the vise may be used when machining, milling or grinding a surface of the workpiece to a close tolerance measured in thousandths of an inch.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art vises known to me each include a stationary jaw and a movable jaw which is movable in many directions. The connection between the movable jaw and the operating component is loose or sloppy thereby permitting the jaw to move in many directions thus tending to induce errors in the workpiece when subjected to a metal finishing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The precision vise includes a base having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw supported by the base. The movable jaw is mounted on the base in a simple and novel manner which permits movement thereof in one direction only thus contributing to accuracy when in use. The movable jaw is attached to a cylindrical guide element or pin movable in a slot or groove and engaging guide surfaces adjacent opposite sides of the slot. The method of construction eliminates undesirable shake or slop and permits the movable jaw to move in only one direction. As a result of the construction a very precise and rigid movable jaw is provided. I

The accuracy of the vise is achieved by providing a cylindrical or guide element on the underside of the movable jaw, with the tung located in the slot and being guided by curved or part cylindrical guide surfaces surrounding the slot provided in the base. The tung or element is of a precise diameter and has one end counterbored so that the guide element may be fastened to the movable jaw. The curved guide surfaces adjacent the upper end of the slot has the same radius as the cylindrical tung. The cylindrical guide element projects outwardly from the slot and engages a cylindrical surface provided on the bottom of the movable jaw. The fastening elements extend through the tung or element into the movable jaw and thus simultaneously secures the latter against up and down sideway movements.

The slot in the base and the cylindrical surface on the bottom of the movable jaw are machined or sized simultaneously, with the movable jaw assembled on the base to insure that the cylindrical guide surfaces adjacent the slot and the cylindrical surface in the bottom of the movable jaw are accurately formed or matched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of the vise;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vise taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the vise taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The precision vise comprises four major components including a base 12 provided with a stationary jaw 14, a movable jaw 16. a cylindrical guide element or pin 18 and a threaded operating rod or element 20. The base 12 is elongated and is of generally rectangular configuration as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The base 12 is accurately machined from a bar of steel and includes a bottom surface 22, an upper or jaw support surface 24 and a pair of integral upstanding abutments at opposite ends of base 12 including the stationary jaw 14 and the post 28 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The base 12 further includes end surfaces 30 and 31 which are fiat and parallel and sides 32 and 33 which are also flat and parallel.

The base 12 is provided with a longitudinally extending centrally located guide slot 34 which extends completely through jaw support surface 24 and bottom surface 22. The slot 34 is arranged on the longitudinal axis of the base 12 and extends from one end 30 to the other end 31 of the base 12 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Slot 34 includes a pair of elongated curved or part cylindrical guide surfaces 36 on opposite sides thereof adjacent the jaw support surface 24. Guide surfaces 36 extend the entire length of base 12. Stationary jaw 14 and post 28 are provided with longitudinally aligned flat surfaces 38 and 40 respectively adjacent opposite ends of the curved guide surfaces 36. The guide element or pin 18 does not contact surfaces 38 and 40. Clearance spaces or reliefs are provided therebetween for cuttings or chips from the workpiece.

The movable jaw 16 is of rectangular configuration and is provided with a bottom including a centrally located cylindrical surface 42. The depth of surface 42 represented by the letter A in FIG. 3 is approximately 0.050 or 0.060 inch. The guide element 18 is in the form of an elongated cylinder as best illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a generally fiat bottom surface 44. Guide element 18 is provided with a pair of transversely extending threaded openings 45. A pair of fastening elements 46 extend through the openings in the guide element l8 and are threaded into the movable jaw 16. The cylindrical guide element 18 includes longitudinally extending surfaces thereon which engage the part cylindrical guide surfaces 36 provided on the base 12 as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The cylindrical surface on guide element I8 and guide surfaces 36 are formed on the same radius.

Post 28 is provided with a centrally located opening 50 which is threaded. The threaded operating rod or element 20 is threaded into opening 50 and extends parallel to and is spaced from slot 34. The inner end 52 of rod 20 is reduced in diameter and fits into the socket 54 provided in the end surface 56 of movable jaw 16. The inner end 52 of rod 20 includes an annular undercut 58. A threaded opening 60 in jaw 16 extends perpendicular to socket 54 and intersects the un' dercut 58. An Allan lock screw 62 is threaded into opening 60, with the inner end thereof fitting into undercut 58 to prevent withdrawal of rod 20 from jaw I6 but which permits rotation of rod 20 relative to jaw 16. Thus rod 20 forms adjustment means between the base 12 and movable jaw 16.

The front face or surface 64 of movable jaw I6 is parallel to the opposing face or surface 66 of the stationary jaw 14. Surface 56 on movable jaw 16 is parallel to the inner face or surface 65 on post 28. Jaw 16 is adapted to engage post 28 which limits the opening of the vise 10. The outer end of threaded rod 20 is provided with a knurled knob or collar 66 provided with a transversely extending handle 68 for manipulating rod 20.

All the surfaces on base 12 and movable jaw 16 including those not identified by a number are accurately ground smooth and fiat unless otherwise noted. The radiuses or diameters of the part cylindrical guide surfaces 36 and the guide element or pin 18 are equal and are precisely and close ly held during the manufacturing and assembling operations.

In use the precision vise 10 may be placed on a work bench or in a magnetic chuck. The vise I0 may be clamped to the work bench or the base may be provided with slots which dovetail into a holder which is fixed. Also the base 12 may be provided with mounting lugs whereby the vise may be secured to the bench by screws or bolts.

The present invention is simple in construction and is easy to manufacture and assemble. The movable jaw 16 is mounted in the base 12 by the provision of the slot 34 and the guide element l8 which moves in the slot 34. With such a construction the movable jaw 16 is mounted for movement in a straight path in one direction only upon rotation of the adjusting means or operating rod 20. The movable jaw 16 is prevented from moving in all other directions.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A precision vise comprising an elongated base having a bottom surface and a jaw support surface, an elongated guide slot of generally U-shaped cross section in said base extending longitudinally through said support surface along the longitudinal axis of said base, said slot extending between said bottom surface and said jaw support surface, said base including a pair of elongated part cylindrical guide surfaces of equal radiuses on opposite sides of said slot terminating adjacent said jaw support surface, a movable jaw on said jaw support surface, with a portion of the lower surface on said movable jaw overlying said slot being of part cylindrical configuration and having a radius equal to the radiuses of said part cylindrical guide surfaces, with the remaining portion of said lower surface of the movable jaw being flat and engaging said jaw support surface, a cylindrical guide element located in said slot and including portions in engagement with said guide surfaces and the part cylindrical portion of the lower surface of said movable jaw, means connecting said guide element to said movable jaw, a stationary second jaw on said base, and adjustment means interposed between said base and said movable jaw for adjusting the latter with respect to said second jaw, said cylindrical guide element traveling in said slot and guiding the movement of said movable jaw during adjustment of the latter, said cylindrical guide element having a length substantially greater than the length of said movable jaw and extending in a direction away from said second jaw.

2. The precision vise defined in claim 1 wherein said second jaw is integral with said base and is located at one end thereof.

3. The precision vise of claim 2 wherein the other end of said base is provided with an integral stationary abutment, said adjustment means being in the form of a threaded element rotatably carried by said abutment and having one end extending into said movable jaw, and means connecting said movable jaw to the threaded element.

4. The guide surface defined in claim 3, wherein the other end of the threaded element is provided with a knurled knob, and an operating rod extending through said knurled knob for rotating the threaded element and thereby moving said movable jaw. 

1. A precision vise comprising an elongated base having a bottom surface and a jaw support surface, an elongated guide slot of generally U-shaped cross section in said base extending longitudinally through said support surface along the longitudinal axis of said base, said slot extending between said bottom surface and said jaw support surface, said base including a pair of elongated part cylindrical guide surfaces of equal radiuses on opposite sides of said slot terminating adjacent said jaw support surface, a movable jaw on said jaw support surface, with a portion of the lower surface on said movable jaw overlying said slot being of part cylindrical configuration and having a radius equal to the radiuses of said part cylindrical guide surfaces, with the remaining portion of said lower surface of the movable jaw being flat and engaging said jaw support surface, a cylindrical guide element located in said slot and including portions in engagement with said guide surfaces and the part cylindrical portion of the lower surface of said movable jaw, means connecting said guide element to said movable jaw, a stationary second jaw on said base, and adjustment means interposed between said base and said movable jaw for adjusting the latter with respect to said second jaw, said cylindrical guide element traveling in said slot and guiding the movement of said movable jaw during adjustment of the latter, said cylindrical guide element having a length substantially greater than the length of said movable jaw and extending in a direction away from said second jaw.
 2. The precision vise defined in claim 1 wherein said second jaw is integral with said base and is located at one end thereof.
 3. The precision vise of claim 2 wherein the other end of said base is provided with an integral stationary abutment, said adjustment means being in the form of a threaded element rotatably carried by said abutment and having one end extending into said movable jaw, and means connecting said movable jaw to the threaded element.
 4. The guide surface defined in claim 3, wherein the other end of the threaded element is provided with a knurled knob, and an operating rod extending through said knurled knob for rotating the threaded element and thereby moving said movable jaw. 